“LAPSED” ANGLERS TO INCREASE FISHING LICENSE

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For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Yancey Roy
Thursday, May 1, 2008 (518) 402-8000

DEC SEEKS TO RECRUIT “LAPSED” ANGLERS TO INCREASE FISHING LICENSE
SALES
Direct Mail Aims to Increase Fishing Participation and License Sales

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that New York State will join
30 states cooperating in a new effort to encourage lapsed anglers to buy
a fishing license. Anglers who have not recently bought licenses will be
sent targeted mailings reminding them to purchase a license and support
fisheries management.

“The fishing in New York State is better than ever, but
participation in the sport of fishing continues to decline both
nationally and in New York,” said Commissioner Grannis. “DEC is
pleased to participate in this program, especially since it complements
our I FISH NY efforts to increase angling participation in New York
State.”

A recent survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
noted that the number of anglers fishing the freshwaters of New York
State, not including the Great Lakes, declined 12 percent since 2001.
The decline in resident angling in New York’s Great Lakes was even
greater -- dropping 41 percent since 2001.

The multi-state lapsed angler effort is being coordinated by the
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). Lapsed anglers are
those that have purchased a license in previous years, but do not
currently hold one. Studies have determined that just 15 percent of
anglers renew their licenses every year for a five-year period. Also,
just 44 percent purchased a license in one of those five years. There
are currently estimated 12 million lapsed anglers in the United States.
Research also indicates that these lapsed anglers are highly likely to
renew their license if reminded.

DEC will employ a direct mail marketing effort to help reach
approximately 155,000 lapsed anglers this year. The direct mail
marketing program will employ an oversized postcard with a creative
message encouraging anglers to buy their fishing license. Targeted
lapsed anglers should receive the first postcard around May 1 and those
who have not purchased their license will receive a second mailing in
June. The cost of the mailings will be shared by DEC and RBFF. RBFF will
also be coordinating radio advertising promoting the sport of fishing
and encouraging people to purchase their license around these dates.

Commissioner Grannis is encouraging people to go fishing,
consistent with one of DEC’s top priorities of getting New Yorkers
reconnected with the outdoors. Anglers also need to remember that even
if they don’t plan on going fishing in the near future, through the
purchase of a license they can make an important contribution to
fisheries management and protection of the state’s diverse fisheries
resources. Over 40 percent of the funding for DEC’s Bureau of
Fisheries is derived from the Conservation Fund, which is supported by
fishing license sale revenue. Another 14 percent comes from the federal
Sportfish Restoration Program. These funds are derived from an excise
tax on boating and fishing equipment, with funds allocated back to the
states based on land area and number of licensed anglers.

Anglers can purchase a fishing license at various license
issuing outlets throughout the state. These include town and county
clerks, some major discount stores, many tackle shops, and sporting good
stores. Licenses can also be purchased by phone by calling
1-86-NY-DECALS or online through the DEC website at
http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html . For more information on
the lapsed angler recruitment program call 518-402-8893 or e-mail
[email protected] .

DEC’s website and regional offices also have information about
public access sites for fishing and other recreational opportunities. Go
to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7749.html for information about places
to fish by region and to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7746.html for a
listing of public fishing rights along popular waterways.

RBFF has also developed a special webpage at
http://www.takemefishing.org/state/page ... w/state/NY that
provides a direct link to DEC’s DECALS license issuing process and
also provides other useful information including fishing and boat launch
locations. RBFF is a nonprofit organization created in 1998 to increase
participation in recreational angling and boating. RBFF helps people
discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through
national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing and Anglers’
Legacy campaigns. For information on RBFF and the programs they
coordinate go to http://www.rbff.org or http://takemefishing.org .
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